United News of Bangladesh

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the fallout from the ongoing war have triggered increases in fuel and food prices, disrupting supply chains in several countries, including Somalia, where an already severe hunger crisis has worsened, according to the World Food Programme (WFP). The WFP said Somalia is currently facing one of the “most complex hunger crises in recent years” due to prolonged drought, conflict and limited humanitarian assistance.According to the agency’s latest findings, the number of people experiencing “crisis-level hunger or worse” in Somalia has nearly doubled over the past year to 6.5 million. Malnutrition worsens in Gaza, women and children severely affected Of them, around two million people are suffering from “emergency hunger”, described as the second-highest level of food insecurity. Hameed Nuru, WFP country director in Somalia, told Al Jazeera that many families are once again being forced to make extremely difficult decisions. “Entire families have had to once again make the toughest choices,” Nuru said.“Sell the little assets they had, reduce or completely cut meals, and leave everything behind to find help – but this time there’s no help available,” he added. Source: Al Jazeera

A severe malnutrition crisis is deepening in the war-battered Gaza Strip amid restrictions on food and humanitarian aid imposed on Palestinians, according to Doctors Without Borders. The organisation said pregnant women, newborns and young children are among the worst affected, with data from its supported clinics showing a rise in premature births, miscarriages, low birth weight babies and infant deaths, alongside increasing cases of acute child malnutrition. Spain demands ‘immediate release’ of Gaza flotilla activist Field workers reported witnessing the crisis firsthand. “We are seeing this every day as we work in the field. We are meeting mothers, we are seeing these premature births and miscarriages, and all of these women are telling us the main reason behind this malnutrition is Israel’s restriction on food,” the statement said. The group further said that nearly six months into the so-called ceasefire, restrictions on aid entry remain in place despite an agreement allowing 600 trucks of humanitarian assistance to enter Gaza daily. “In reality, only about 150 trucks are entering, and people here do not have access to food or basic supplies,” it added. Source: Al Jazeera

The Israeli military has claimed that its forces killed 220 Hezbollah fighters since a Washington-brokered “ceasefire” between Israeli and Lebanese officials took effect in mid-April. In a statement, Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee said Israeli forces killed 85 Hezbollah members over the past week and struck more than 180 military facilities belonging to the group. Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Health Ministry said Israeli attacks have killed more than 2,700 people since March 2, including dozens since the supposed truce began. Trump says US held “very good” talks with Iran in last 24 hours Source: Al Jazeera

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said Washington had held “very good” talks with Iran over the past 24 hours regarding ending the war that has continued for more than two months. Speaking at an event at the White House, Trump said Iran was eager to reach an agreement. “They want to make a deal,” Trump told reporters, repeating his earlier claim that Iran wants “to make a deal badly.” Iran reviews latest US proposal as Trump pushes for deal to end conflict “We’ve had very good talks over the last 24 hours, and it’s very possible that we’ll make a deal,” he added. Trump also reiterated that if the United States withdrew from Iran at this moment, the country would need 20 years to rebuild because of the extensive damage caused by the US-Israeli strikes launched on Feb. 28.

“We expect an agreement sooner rather than later,” Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Thursday. “We hope the parties will reach a peaceful and sustainable solution that will contribute not only to peace in our region but to international peace as well.” But he declined to give a timeline, saying Pakistan would not disclose details of the ongoing diplomatic efforts. “What I can tell you and this is what I have stated before that we remain positive, we remain optimist, and we hope the settlement will be soon rather than later,” he said. Asked whether Pakistan was expecting any response from Iran later Thursday, Andrabi said: “I will not comment on specifics or the movement of the messages.” Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, speaking in televised remarks Thursday, said Islamabad remained in “continuous contact with Iran and the United States, day and night, to stop the war and extend the ceasefire.”  

The global energy crisis and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East are expected to dominate discussions as leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gather on the Philippine island of Cebu this week. The two-day summit, scheduled for Thursday and Friday, will bring together leaders along with foreign and economic ministers from the 11-member regional bloc. According to report, ensuring energy and food supply security for ASEAN’s nearly 700 million people will be among the top priorities at the meeting. Analysts say the worsening fuel crisis is likely to test the Philippines’ leadership as ASEAN chair, requiring Manila to coordinate a regional response while also keeping attention on other unresolved regional tensions, including Myanmar’s civil war and the long-standing border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia. “Planning to cushion the economic fallout could eventually outweigh other immediate regional issues,” Don McLain Gill, a geopolitical analyst and lecturer at Manila’s De La Salle University, told media. #From Al Jazeera

Iran says it is still reviewing a US proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict, amid reports that Washington and Tehran may be moving closer to a broader agreement. According to a report by Axios published Wednesday, the White House believes it is nearing a 14-point memorandum of understanding with Iran that could pave the way for more detailed nuclear negotiations. However, reactions from Tehran remained mixed. A senior Iranian lawmaker dismissed the reported proposal as a “wish list,” while Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei said Iran would share its response to the US proposal through Pakistani mediators after completing its review. “The American proposal is still being reviewed by Iran and after concluding, it will inform the Pakistani side of its opinion,” Baghaei told the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA). Pakistan’s Foreign Minister said Islamabad is trying to turn the current ceasefire into “a permanent end to this war.” US President Donald Trump said Washington had held “very good talks with Iran in the last 24 hours” and suggested a deal could soon be reached. Axios reported that the proposed agreement is contained in a one-page memo outlining 14 points, including suspension of Iran’s uranium enrichment programme, lifting of sanctions, and restoring free movement through the Strait of Hormuz. The report, citing unnamed US officials and other sources familiar with the discussions, said many provisions would depend on a final agreement being reached later. Reuters also reported that sources familiar with the mediation efforts confirmed the existence of the proposal, although its details have not been officially released. Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, reacted strongly to the report. “The Americans will not gain anything in a war they are losing that they have not gained in face-to-face negotiations,” he wrote on X. He warned that Iran was “ready” and could deliver a “harsh and regret-inducing response” if Washington failed to make concessions. Trump also issued a warning, saying on his Truth Social platform that if Iran refused a deal, “the bombing starts” and would be carried out “at a much higher level and intensity than before.” He added that “Operation Epic Fury,” the initial US-Israeli offensive against Iran, would end if Tehran accepted the proposed terms. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier said the operation had achieved its objectives and was now over. Trump again claimed Iran had agreed never to develop nuclear weapons, though Tehran has not publicly confirmed that position. Iran’s nuclear programme remains one of the central disputes between the two countries. “They want to make a deal. We've had very good talks over the last 24 hours and it's very possible that we'll make a deal,” Trump said, adding, “I think we won.” Trump also announced a pause in “Project Freedom,” an operation designed to restore shipping and oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz by escorting stranded vessels out of the Gulf. Iran has not officially commented on the pause, though the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) suggested the strait could reopen if “aggressors’ threats” end. The Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route through which around 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas normally passes, has effectively remained blocked since US and Israeli attacks on Iran began in late February. Although a ceasefire announced in early April halted Iranian missile and drone attacks on Gulf states, including the UAE, shipping traffic through the strait remains limited. Meanwhile, US Central Command said Wednesday it disabled an Iranian-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman that allegedly attempted to break the blockade. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there was “full coordination” between Israel and the US on Iran policy. “There are no surprises. We share common goals, and the most important objective is the removal of all enriched material from Iran and the dismantling of Iran's enrichment capabilities,” Netanyahu said. His comments came after Israel carried out its first strike on Beirut since an April ceasefire with Hezbollah. Netanyahu said the target was a senior Hezbollah commander allegedly responsible for attacks on Israeli settlements and soldiers. Hezbollah, backed by Iran, began launching attacks on Israel in March in response to Israeli strikes on Iran. Despite the ceasefire, both Israel and Hezbollah have continued cross-border attacks, accusing each other of violating the agreement. #From BBC

A Pakistani source involved in peace efforts told Reuters that the US and Iran are nearing a brief, one-page agreement aimed at ending the conflict. The source said, “We will close this very soon. We are getting close,” confirming an earlier Axios report. More details are expected as the situation develops. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has paused the military’s “Project Freedom” operation intended to secure the Strait of Hormuz, citing progress toward a broader agreement with Iran. He said the pause would last “for a short period” to assess whether a “complete and final agreement with the representatives of Iran” can be reached. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian responded that the US is applying “a policy of maximum pressure” and “expects Iran to submit to their unilateral demands”, calling that approach “impossible” for Tehran. Global oil prices fell further after Trump’s comments suggesting a potential peace deal. Brent crude dropped more than 6% to around $103 a barrel, while US crude slipped nearly 7% to about $95. Both benchmarks had already declined about 4% in the previous session. Traders are closely watching developments around the Strait of Hormuz following the pause in the “Project Freedom” operation aimed at supporting shipping through the waterway. Source: Al Jazeera

The United States and several Gulf countries have drafted a resolution at the United Nations aimed at ensuring safe shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with a vote expected at the UN Security Council in the coming days. US Senator Marco Rubio said the proposed resolution urges Iran to stop attacking vessels, laying sea mines and imposing charges on ships for safe transit through the strategic waterway. According to Rubio, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar were involved in preparing the draft. He also called on Iran to disclose the locations of sea mines in the strait and help in removing them. “The Islamic Republic of Iran continues to hold the world’s economy hostage,” Rubio said. Reports said the draft resolution was revised from an earlier version to secure the backing of Russia and China. It also includes a provision for setting up a humanitarian corridor in the strait.  #From Al Jazeera

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has rejected US demands for concessions in talks to end the ongoing conflict, warning that Iran will not bow to pressure. Responding to US calls to compromise or face possible military action, Pezeshkian said, “No one can make us surrender”, adding that followers of the Shia faith “cannot be coerced by force”. In a post on X, the Iranian president said he had spoken with Iraq’s prime minister and urged Washington to withdraw its military threats from the Middle East. Meanwhile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said in recent days that a new security plan for the Strait of Hormuz is intended to block the passage of weapons and supplies heading to US military bases in the region, a key issue complicating negotiations between Tehran and Washington. In a latest development, US President Donald Trump said the American operation to reopen the strait, named “Project Freedom”, has been put on hold to allow talks with Iran to move forward.  #From Al Jazeera